Football: Wayne Hills players spend the day at Camp Wishes

COMMUNITY OUTREACH - Members of the Wayne Hills football team visited Camp Wishes at the Wayne PAL last week and spent the day with campers participating in various events and games.

WAYNE - Steve Pusterla seemingly has it all.

A senior captain of the highly successful Wayne Hills football team, Pusterla has a championship ring from the 2011 season and a ton of ambition for the future, which for him, begins now as the 2013 gridiron campaign approaches. Even a broken collarbone, suffered during a non-contact drill on Aug. 7, has provided a minor road block for his plans to excel this fall for the Patriots.

But when Pusterla and a group of his senior teammates made a visit to Camp Wishes at the Wayne PAL on Aug. 15, as part of the program's community service, he made a friend in Adam, a young man full of energy and enthusiasm, who is a huge Wayne Hills football fan.

The Patriot players visited the PAL and played games with the youngsters, ages 4-21. Some of the campers are autistic, while others may have special-needs, but they embrace life with a huge smile and tremendously positive attitude. The children's zest for life clearly affected the Patriots, and Pusterla was one of those who thrived on the need to give back.

"I had just met Adam, but man, that kid is something," Pusterla said. "It felt great to give back, to put a smile on some of those kids' faces and make them feel happy. Adam wants to come to some of our home games and hopefully, he can join us on the sidelines for a game."

Among the other Wayne Hills players at the PAL were team captains Justin DeGroat, James Kelly and Erik Martinez. Wayne resident and Camp Wishes Director, Cindy Salerno, was overwhelmed by the Wayne Hills players' effort in working with her campers.

"Let me tell you something, the football players from Wayne Hills went out of their way to make our kids feel special," Salerno said. "They didn't just show up and go through the motions. They were involved and provided so much energy and excitement. I can't thank those kids enough and hope they'll come back, soon."

Salerno's love for the campers was evident.

"These kids just want to be accepted in society like others their age," Salerno said. "They work hard, have fun and enjoy the camaraderie. And when you mention Adam, you have no idea how much he enjoyed having the players around him. That smile on his face said everything. This is what community is all about. It's having young men like those football players spending time with kids who may have challenges, but shouldn't be treated differently, either. And the way the players treated the kids showed you everything you need to know about the kind of kids in our community."

Wayne Hills head football coach Wayne Demikoff was ecstatic with the event and hopes the team will return to the PAL and work with the campers during the season.

"It's what we're all about," Demikoff said. "Our players have the opportunity to play football and enjoy the high school experience. Not all kids have that, and it's important for them to understand that their contributions to young people will not only make the kids feel good, but will give them a sense of accomplishment and pride, as well."